DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Salvador Diputado has welcomed the decision of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to temporarily handle the department when he assumes office on July 1.

Diputado, who was appointed DA assistant secretary for the Visayas by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, said the move will possibly result in bigger budget for the DA.

"Good choice because this will be the right time for food production to take front seat in nation building. Maybe this time, the DA will have bigger and better budget," Diputado said.

Marcos Jr. said on Monday, June 20, 2022, that he will temporarily take the helm of the Department of Agriculture (DA) upon his assumption of office.

"As to agriculture, I think the problem is severe enough that I have decided to take on the portfolio of Secretary of Agriculture at least for now," Marcos said in a press conference.

Diputado said he was expecting Marcos to encounter problems at the DA but these would be solved if there is a "political will."

He added, though, that the incoming president should appoint a DA caretaker to take charge of the department when he is not available due to the many works that he has to accomplish as president. (TPT)